[antiRepublicrat]

It lacks an enduser database such as Microsoft Access.

OOo 2.0 is about to be released. See what's now in it, including its own database.

It lacks macro support

Actually, it has good macro support, with its scripting framework supporting several languages. It just doesn't copy for Microsoft's VB macro language. The possibility of porting applications (if any) is one consideration in any migration strategy.

Advanced formatting doesn't convert properly.

That's mostly Microsoft's fault for not releasing the entire Office format for compatibility. This is actually a reason to migrate to OOo, because with OOo you know that in the future you won't be locked into anything -- its open XML document format can be converted perfectly to anything else.

Besides, if you want advanced formatting you probably shouldn't be using a word processor, because I'll guarantee you that you're spending too much time getting the advanced formatting to come out right.

No grammar checker.

That may be a problem for some. I never use them.

The thesaurus is crap.

Very true, and that might actually be something that would keep a small percentage of people from moving.

Missing reading layout.

You use that? You're the first person I know who does.

No Outlook/PIM alternative.

Because OOo doesn't cover that. If you want that, download Thunderbird (a better email/news/contact app than Outlook). Unfortunately, a good competing PIM isn't out yet, but it's coming soon in Mozilla Calendar and the "Lightning" project to closely integrate it with Thunderbird. Given Mozilla's track record, I expect it to be very good.

There are OSS PIM projects out there for Windows now, but I don't think any of them are good enough to compete with Outlook.

. In short, it's the Taiwan rubber-dog-crap version of MS Office.

Word was the rubber-dog-crap version of WordPerfect (interestingly, in early days popular on the Mac but not on the PC). Powerpoint is a Mac application that Microsoft bought. Excel is a copy of Lotus 1-2-3 (in turn a copy of VisiCalc), and only won because of the difficulties Microsoft created for everyone but them when porting to the new Windows (like with WordPerfect).

[Bush2000]

That's mostly Microsoft's fault for not releasing the entire Office format for compatibility.

Rrrright, blame MS. Typical anti-commercial bigotry.

This is actually a reason to migrate to OOo, because with OOo you know that in the future you won't be locked into anything -- its open XML document format can be converted perfectly to anything else.

Software doesn't rot. You can use your copy of MS Office until your machine falls apart. And since you guys argue that you can do excellent binary conversion, you have nothing to complain about.

Besides, if you want advanced formatting you probably shouldn't be using a word processor, because I'll guarantee you that you're spending too much time getting the advanced formatting to come out right.

No need. Word handles it just fine.

[Thesaurus] Very true, and that might actually be something that would keep a small percentage of people from moving.

You and 1L should sync up. He seems to be under the impression that the OO thesaurus is state-of-the-art.

Because OOo doesn't cover that.

Duh.

If you want that, download Thunderbird (a better email/news/contact app than Outlook).

Uh, no thanks. Thunderbird is a limited subset of Outlook. It's actually been compared favorably to Outlook Express -- but it doesn't talk to MS Exchange Server and, therefore, it will have no corporate adoption.

Outlook 2003 - Thunderbird Smack Down

There are OSS PIM projects out there for Windows now, but I don't think any of them are good enough to compete with Outlook.

Right. They're too busy floundering around, copying features from Outlook that have been around for years.

Word was the rubber-dog-crap version of WordPerfect

Dude, your knowledge of software history is pretty limited. Word was a graphically based word processor years before WordPerfect ever made the move. WordPerfect wasn't even close to being a model for Word.

[Bush2000]

That's mostly Microsoft's fault for not releasing the entire Office format for compatibility.

Rrrright, blame MS. Typical anti-commercial bigotry.

This is actually a reason to migrate to OOo, because with OOo you know that in the future you won't be locked into anything -- its open XML document format can be converted perfectly to anything else.

Software doesn't rot. You can use your copy of MS Office until your machine falls apart. And since you guys argue that you can do excellent binary conversion, you have nothing to complain about.

Besides, if you want advanced formatting you probably shouldn't be using a word processor, because I'll guarantee you that you're spending too much time getting the advanced formatting to come out right.

No need. Word handles it just fine.

[Thesaurus] Very true, and that might actually be something that would keep a small percentage of people from moving.

You and 1L should sync up. He seems to be under the impression that the OO thesaurus is state-of-the-art.

Because OOo doesn't cover that.

Duh.

If you want that, download Thunderbird (a better email/news/contact app than Outlook).

Uh, no thanks. Thunderbird is a limited subset of Outlook. It's actually been compared favorably to Outlook Express -- but it doesn't talk to MS Exchange Server and, therefore, it will have no corporate adoption.

Outlook 2003 - Thunderbird Smack Down

There are OSS PIM projects out there for Windows now, but I don't think any of them are good enough to compete with Outlook.

Right. They're too busy floundering around, copying features from Outlook that have been around for years.

Word was the rubber-dog-crap version of WordPerfect

Dude, your knowledge of software history is pretty limited. Word was a graphically based word processor years before WordPerfect ever made the move. WordPerfect wasn't even close to being a model for Word.